10 Craziest Skateboarding Feats

While there are apparently no still photos of Jeremy Wray jumping between two water towers like these, you can see the crazy stunt on the video link on this page. iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Jeremy Wray is not a household name like Hawk, Way or Burnquist, but he will forever be legendary among skate video fans for his epic ollie that made the cover of Thrasher magazine in November 1997. The location was Rowland Heights, Calif., where two round water towers sit 40 feet (12 meters) off the ground and exactly 18 feet (5.5 meters) apart [source: Skately]. Wray had the audacity to attempt a jump over the gap without the aid of a launch ramp.

To set the scene, these are two perfectly flat concrete surfaces that are exactly the same height. The only way Wray would survive the jump is by building enough ground speed and ollying with enough lift to carry him 18 feet (5.5 meters) to safety. He warmed up for the stunt by leaping across the gap without his board, just to give him the confidence that it was even possible. After that, it was a matter of getting the cameras in place and letting it fly.

Unlike other big jumps, where you can see how the rider might bail out safely, there is no room for error in the water tower gap. If Wray falls short, he smacks face first into a concrete wall, then falls 40 feet (12.2 meters) to the ground. Thank God he didn't. The footage is undeniably crazy, earning Wray our top spot in the 10 craziest skateboarding stunts.